Western cyclone., 1887-01-20
ROSY AND RUE.

We were very poor. suppose there
is no absolute disgrace in bcing poor,
but it certainly was very annoying.
Mother didn't mind so much. Mother
was one of those gentle, RESCUED little
creatures who don't mind anything.
But Rosamund rebelled in spirit, aud
so did /, when it became necessary TO
put into the papers that advertisement
that brought US our lOdger.
"What will people say?" cried !, dole
fully.
How the Bonlfaces will sneer!' add
ed Rosamund.
Children, don't De foolish" said
mother, shaking her cap-strings IN her
pretty. reproving way. anything is
better than running in debt And we
really nave no use for the big upper
room, and there's no reason why we
shouldn't get few shillings a week for
it.''
And this once mother persisted in
having her own way.
Keeping dodgers is such a vulgar
way Of getting ones living" SAID Rosa
mund, with her pretty pink nose in the
air.
There is nothing vulgar about it, my
dear" said mother "Vulgarity doesn't
depend on things like this"
II am sure" pouted the beauty, ''if
you would only wait until my pictures
are sold"
But we have waited eight months
already, dear" sighed mother. Pm
beginning to be afraid that your pict-
ures haven't touched the popular
fancy"
As for me, said nothing. Neither
mother nor l had dared to tell Rosa
mund that was doing up old Mrs.
Morses caps and Miss Nancy Waite's
fne laces for so much week. and that
money was what paid our butchers
bill
R0samund was inclined to be naughty
and aristocratic; but then, as mother
said, aristocrats must live as well as
other people.
Well. the lodgcr came. Miss Elsie
Everard her name was. She was q very
learned lady, and brought heavy box
Of books with her-encyclopedias and
dictionaries, and volumes of references
enough TO set up whole library. She
was writing up something for scientific
periodical, and worked diligently all
the mornings. She had her hair cut
short like a mans. and she must have
Dcen fifty if she was a day. Rosamund
and used to speculate how she would
look if she had on Il cutaway coat and
trousers.
But We secretly TevcrCd her, TOO. after
4 fashion, when someone told us how
much money the editors of the Antedi-
luvian Magazine paid her for those
sheets OF stnbDy, blotty writing, with
every other line crossed out. and queer
little interlineaIions crowded in hero
and there.
l admired her genius. Rosamund
admired her for the beautiful silk gowns
she had, and tho Jewels that clittered in
hcr ears when she went out 10 tea with
Mrs. Thomson
mast admit that she was not much
trouble, ate what was set before her.
and never complained because the
sheets were not linen. or the table nap
knS double damask. And mother said
she didn't know what she should have
done without the money.
had been out into the garden one
tart for dinner, and while [ gathered
The rich, crimson globules. the tears
slowly trickled down my face. For |
had 4 real trouble.
Mary Waterman was giving 4 party.
and had invited me, and l had nothing
to wear. For. Is 10 going in that old
pink muslin that had been washed and
ironed into mere string; or the spotted
Swiss that Josie Walters called From
everlasting to everlasting" because
had worn it at every social gathering
since Easter-I made up my mind that
i would sooner stay at home.
Rosamund had smiled triumphantlv.
~ shall wear my blue sateen," said
she, Its just the color that becomes
me most.
But had no blue sateen, and no
prospect of one. and knew perfectly
we'll that ROsamund would use every
effort TO attract Walter Yorke's stten-
ton.
She didn't kpow-how should she?-
that Walter had given me a rosebud at
the picnic in exchange for nv sprig of
lemon verbena She didn't know that
Walter had said that Ruby Joyce was
the prettiest girl in town.
But there is so much in fortuitous cir
cumstances; and Rosamund had the
coquettish grace of Mrs. Langtry. il
once she chose TO exert it All at once
an idea flashed into my mind. had a
pretty little velvet jacket of the deep
rich ruby red now so fashionable. and
perhaps Miss Everard would lend m,
that cream-white surah silk skirt of her.
with the Spanish lace.
She and were nearly of height
and | would be so careful of it. She
had said. laughingly, that she OWED
me good turn for recopying thos
pages of manuscript that the water-ius
had deluged. and now was the momen
10 claim it
A@Al---d a~AS tLA t-@3Aa ~ tAa 49, -